I've flown that route with NWA many times with no problems. I've had a few problems w/ NWA on other routes, but nothing major.

With AirTran, I'm 3 for 3 for nightmares. One flight canceled. They just canceled it. Told me they'd put me on standby for the next flight out ... the NEXT day.

Another time, a delay made me miss my connecting flight -- no weather issues or anything. Just general incompetence.

Another time, lost luggage.

I'd go NWA.

NWA is far from perfect, but in this case I would choose them. Last time we flew them to Chicago it ended being delayed so long that it would have been faster to drive...

Thanks for your responses. I'm thinking the $20-$30 savings by flying Airtran is too big a risk, I'll fly NWA. Hopefully if NWA delays me, I'll still be able to catch another flight that same day (even if it is several hours later). Being delayed A DAY would ruin our short trip.

AirTran is usually less expensive than NWA, and like Sun Country, they fly out of the Humphrey Terminal.

I flew on AirTran to Gulfport, MS and it was a nightmare -- delays causing missed connections, overbooking, misinformed gate agents, lost luggage -- and that was the only time I've flown with them! If it was a non-stop flight to Midway or Atlanta or Orlando I would fly them, but they seem to have problems when it comes to connections. I always inform my clients of this as well.

I love Sun Country - as an agent, I love selling them to my clients and they are also my choice when I am flying.

I realize you've probably already made your choice, but I thought I would put in my two cents. I fly that route fairly often to go see family in Indiana (including a trip leaving tomorrow.)

We've had a flight completely canceled by NorthWest. In fact they canceled our flight a week before we even left, and the only option they could give us that would work was to fly us out of Ohare instead of Midway as originally booked. Once we got to Ohare, they canceled our flight and were unable to get us out until 4 pm the next day! We ended up taking a shuttle bus to Milwaukee and flying out from there early the next morning. It was a nightmare.

I've also had problems with Airtran, but usually only an hour delay. One time it was more than that, but I will say they did everything they could to make sure we got out that night. They were minutes away from hitting the flight crew's time limit rules. I've never seen a flight board so fast!

We now try to fly airtran over NW when possible. I find Midway to be easier than Ohare, and NW has fewer flights going to Midway. Also, we much prefer the smaller Humphrey terminal here.

Safe travels to you!

I checked in online the day before my flight and saw that some seats were available for an additional fee. They were labeled Coach Choice, carrying the distinct implication that they were somehow better than the other seats. The graphic showed them as behind a handicapped seat so I thought they'd have more legroom or maybe even no seat in front of them. So I paid the $20 for the "upgrade" and was extremely upset to find that the seat I had paid extra for was ABSOLUTELY INDISTINGUISHABLE from any of the other seats! Same seat, same tiny allotment of legroom, same everything. This is a despicable way to make extra money, implying that some seats are better and charging extra for the same crappy seats everyone else gets for no extra charge. NWA is shamelessly scamming consumers, DO NOT FLY NWA!!

nopers

those seats are towards the front of the plane - either in the bulk-head seats, exit rows, or in the aisles in the front - that's it - no extra legroom.

http://www.nwa.com/features/coachchoice/

Add Choice & Comfort at Check-in with Coach ChoiceSM

Northwest Airlines is saving some preferred coach seat assignments for domestic and international travelers until check-in.

Confirm these preferred seat assignments (including exit, aisle and window seats) for a modest fee at time of check-in at nwa.com or at the airport.

I strongly recommend seatguru.com you can read up about the seats for each type of plane by airline.

Open that site up in one browser and the NWA site in the other.

By the way, all airlines stink.

The way I recommednt you decide is by how many flights the airline has to/from your destination.

With Minneapolis, NW will almost always win. If there is a cancellation you have a much better cahnce of getting onto a flight. If the flight is cancelled - call the airline/Travel Agent don't wait in line.

To chicago you have more choices than almost anywhere else. I think you could be safe booking either airline, but I would avoid the last fligh tof the day.